The star has been cast in the second series of Shakespeare's History plays (Henry VI in two parts and Richard III) in the Neal Street Productions film for BBC2, the broadcaster has announced.

It comes just two days after it emerged that Freeman would play the title role in Richard III at the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End later this year.

The second series of Shakespeare's history plays is from the creative team behind the Bafta-award-winning The Hollow Crown films and will be directed by Dominic Cooke. It will be the first time Cooke, a former artistic director of the Royal Court theatre, has directed for the screen.

Cumberbatch said: "I can't wait to work with Dominic Cooke again to bring this complex, funny and dangerous character to life for the BBC and Neal Street Productions's peerless series of Shakespeare's history plays."

The creative team at Neal Street Productions includes Sam Mendes, who is an executive producer for Shakespeare's history plays.

Another executive producer, Pippa Harris, said: "Neal Street Productions worked with Benedict on both Stuart: A Life Backwards for the BBC and the film Starter for Ten. His range and dexterity as an actor make him the perfect choice to bring one of Shakespeare's towering characters to television."

Ben Stephenson, the BBC drama controller, described Cumberbatch as "one of the world's most brilliant and in-demand actors".